Post MPs' and Senators' Expenses Online

In May 2010 federal MPs blocked Auditor General Sheila Fraser’s request to examine how more than half-a-billion tax dollars are spent running Parliament each year. The last time an audit was conducted was nearly 20 years ago and taxpayers weren’t putting up with the lame-o-excuses politicians were dreaming up to avoid the scrutiny attached to almost every other dollar of federal government spending.

The CTF organized a petition and had taxpayers contact Parliament Hill en mass demanding the books be opened and MP expenses be posted online for all to see. On June 15^th parliamentarians finally relented. The auditor would be able to audit “some” of the MPs expenses but not release any names attached to her findings.  She would also be able to turn any questionable practices over to the RCMP. The Senate meanwhile remained steadfast in its refusal to open its spending to the auditor.

We expected this to be a long battle!

More incremental gains came in October 2010 when release of the Public Accounts broke out the spending of Members of Parliament into various categories. And, the Senate finally relented and they too agreed to open their books to the auditor.

The CTF will not rest until all federal lawmakers are subject to posting their expense receipts online for the public to see not unlike the City of Toronto which is currently the gold-stand of transparency and accountability when it comes to disclosure of politicians' expenses.

Support the campaign for transparency

• Sign Our NEW Petition -- and forward to your contact list!
• Join our facebook group "Make Canadian MP Expenses Public."
• Contact Lawmakers